Millwall injury concern for West Brom as QPR boss responds to Jake Clarke-Salter injury setback

QPR played out an unglamorous 0-0 draw against Oxford United under the lights at Loftus Road on Wednesday evening, making it five games unbeaten in the Championship for Julien Stephan.

Given the side’s recent form, there was hope that it could be three points against the struggling U’s in front of home support, but it wasn’t to be despite 13 shots from the hosts. QPR must find goalscoring form quickly with the next fixture, against Bristol City, coming on Saturday.

Meanwhile, on the other side of London, Millwall fell to a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Coventry City with Frank Lampard’s ruthless side moving up to second in the league. There were injury updates from both Lions boss Alex Neil and QPR head coach Stephan after full time. LondonWorld has your Championship round-up.

QPR update on Jake Clarke-Salter injury

QPR were handed a blow ahead of the clash with Oxford United with Jake Clarke-Salter suffering yet another injury setback in midweek. The 28-year-old has not played for the first team since January with a hip injury.

The centre-back is a key member of the starting XI when fit and had looked close to a return to action when named as part of the Development Squad team to take on Swansea City on Tuesday night. However, Clarke-Salter limped off injured after just 11 minutes.

Such an early substitution did not appear to be good news but Stephan has played down the severity of the setback. Stephan said: “It was just by precaution, there is no problem with him. He will start very quickly the training sessions with us. I don’t know if it’s at the end of the week or the beginning of the next one but it’s not a new problem.”

Those words would suggest that Clarke-Salter won’t be in with a chance of making the matchday squad against Bristol City this weekend but a potential return for the London derby against Millwall later this month could be on the cards.

Millwall striker becomes injury concern

Meanwhile, the injury saga at Millwall continues with a new player now a fitness worry following the defeat to Coventry City. Neil’s side are also back in Championship action this weekend, when they travel to promotion-chasing West Brom.

Josh Coburn had started every league fixture for Millwall this season but was completely absent from the matchday squad on Wednesday night, despite scoring his first goal of the campaign in the 1-1 draw with Swansea City last time out.

Neil was asked for an update on the player after the game and whether it was a serious injury. He said: “I hope not. I hope he’s available for the weekend. But we’ll wait and see what happens over the next two days.

“Would I have liked Josh on the bench? Of course I would have. I’d have put him on the pitch today if I had the chance. But he was carrying something. We weren’t quite sure how bad it was. We didn’t want to take any risks.”

In other news, QPR handed 'big' injury blow ahead of Bristol City and Millwall clashes.